The Value of Shells

〢- Generously, I could be considered amongst the clan of dragons

Generously, I could be considered amongst the clan of dragons. To be specific, I was no demon, mainly a tomb-guarding clam-spirit; a hidden dragon with the potential to become a dragon (1).

I do not quite recall the clan of dragons. The Dragon Kings are a given, of course; for every carp that jumps the Dragon Gate (2), each has the chance to become a Dragon King and govern their own river. Other dragons occupy the Kingly Courts, serve gods and immortals alike, and so on.

I don't think any of them expected one to become a courtesan.

"Greetings to Lord Di, Lord Yuchi, Priest Ming." I saluted, and waited.

"Ah, let me introduce each other," Yí was fast to intervene. "Lord Di, Lord Yuchi, this is First Madame Jiang, the first of the three madames of Green Chrysanthemum Court. She has been registered (3) since the Wude era (4)."

"The Wude era? Madame's beauty has yet to wane."

"Beike thanks Lord Yuchi for the compliment. Beike remembers, the old Duke Zhongwu of E paid a similar compliment to Beike many years ago."

"An event such a long time ago, she can still remember! Not even my mother can recall already!" Lord Yuchi gave a cautious laugh, though the remark seemed to have shaken him.

"As for Lord Di, Beike has not been acquainted with any of the Di family since Secretary-General Di Xiaoxu moved to Taiyuan." I recounted. "I did hear that his son had seven sons, all of them dragons within the populace. Lord Di must be the eldest, I believe?"

"Ah, I am."

"And in your fourth decade. How young."

"Young?! I suppose, this is coming from someone born in the founding era," Lord Yuchi started. Oh, yes, both mandarins were in their fourth decade.

"Ah, Lord Yuchi, that is a bit incorrect. Beike's birth is necessarily far removed from the Wude era."

"This..."

"Ah, Madame Beike's reputation is first-class amongst others in my line of work," Chongyan intervened at last as I started pouring out four cups of tea (5). "All the hoi-polloi caution their young masters against taking concubines from Green Chrysanthemum Court. Why? This is because... because First Madame Jiang is capable of ensuring lasting youth for the rest of the girls' lives. Legitimate wives have to deal with two fronts."

"Flagitious!" Lord Yuchi nodded, but still looked intrigued. "So... may I enquire about Madame's... age?"

"This... is not a topic Lord Yuchi should just ask. Women are protective of their age," I cautioned in teasing. "How to explain... I was around when Xianyang was the capital city, and possibly more than that."

Lord Di quickly calculated on his fingers.

They were shaking later when he took a cup of tea. He drank three cups before he spoke at last: "Madame must be compared to the incomparable Dragon Well tea, then."

"Beike has not had the opportunity to visit the famous West Lake. Beike must indeed take the time to visit."

"It's not that easy to travel, Madame."

I smiled. "Beike has the time."

"So, the matter of the Lady of the Kingdom of Rong was solved with much thanks to First Madame Jiang," Chongyan rubbed his hands together as I poured him a cup. "Chang'an is the city of a million people, but First Madame Jiang is the foremost authority in Chang'an, concerning matters of ghosts and demons."

"Priest Ming has spoken incorrectly. It is the City God (6) which reports to the Celestial Court."

"Then, you must be the foremost authority which humans can access," Priest Ming reworded himself. "Otherwise, are you asking Lord Di to pay a visit to the City God?"